RM Hubbert is a Scottish flamenco-style guitarist who has just released his second album. While his first consisted solely of Hubbert’s guitar playing, the follow-up sees him joined by Aidan Moffat, Alex Kapranos (on production) and others from the Scottish music scene.
He has dialed up the drama, as the almost Morricone-esque opener We Radioed displays. It leads nicely into the blissful Car Song, featuring Moffat ‘singing’ a tale of abandoning modern life for something better over some gorgeous acoustic playing from Hubbert.
Elsewhere Gus Am Bris An Latha features the banjo-playing of Foxface’s John Ferguson, and Sandwalks introduces piano into the mix. At times it misses the mark, Sunbeam Melts The Hour features the impossibly high-pitched vocals of Hanna Tuulikki and Marion Kenny on gu zheng (!), relegating Hubbert’s guitar to the background. Half Light, featuring the Delgados’ Emma Pollock on vocals, fares better, its darker melody offset by dramatic violin, evoking a Wicker Man type feel.
Despite the presence of many guests, some of the album’s finest moments are those featuring RM Hubbert alone on guitar, such as For Joe, V, and Switches Part 2. For those familiar with his debut, these tracks will prove a delight, the guitar picking out some beautifully intricate melodies. V has echoes of Nick Drake, while Switches Part 2 features occasional accompaniment on self-generated percussion (Hubbert’s fingers beating on the body of his guitar). The album concludes with The False Bride, an almost traditional-sounding folk tune sung by Alasdair Roberts.
RM Hubbert has progressed from his debut, and the aforementioned guests certainly provide interesting diversions. Yet he needn’t rely on his friends, at its purest and most unadorned, Hubbert’s guitar playing is almost peerless.
Killian Laher
Tracklist:
- We Radioed
- Car Song
- For Joe
- Gus Am Bris An Latha
- Sunbeam Melts The Hour
- V
- Sandwalks
- Half Light
- Hungarian Notation
- Switches Part 2
- The False Bride
